AP sources: Texas fires coach Barnes after 17 years

Texas has fired men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes after 17 seasons, people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. Texas athletic director Steve Patterson made the decision after meeting with Barnes on Saturday. The school was expected to make a formal announcement today. Barnes won three Big 12 titles and his teams made it to the NCAA tournament 16 times. Texas made the Final Four in 2003. But Barnes faced increasing criticism from fans after several years of early exits from the tournament, including a first-round loss to Butler this year. Barnes won 402 games at Texas. – Associated Press